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Training Report: First one for the year so my 12 year old and I were really looking forward to it. The team started with a clover leaf passing formation with the coach looking on from afar. Each player started at a cone with one player in the middle, he passed the ball to one of the outside players who in turn would pass off into space for the next player to run on to, they in turn passed on to the next alternating with the player in the middle. The skill level seemed pretty good considering where they are in the season with lots of passes hitting the mark. Some of the second stringers were lacking the finish of the starting line up. This exercise went on for about 15 minutes. The next drill was passing tighly in space with an unbalanced attack and defense ratio which required pin point passes. Once again, there seems a bit of a gulf between the more senior player and the younger guys. This was another 15- 20 minute exercise. By this stage with the humidity and the incredible number of pesky flies we decided to head off to the tennis centre to do some Christmas Shopping (fail as they have run out of tennis balls!!!) We did notice that the filth were out trainig doing a full ground drill at Eddieland, my only observation was that Bucks appears to be working on getting his team of champions moving the ball out of defense by constantly missing targets at speed. From our osbervation they were excelling at this tactic. We stopped off at Edwins for a coffee and an iced chocolate and debated the training drills that we had seen and how they had changed since last year. As we wandered past Gosch's to our car we noticed that the team were doing a full match simulation. Stand out players were Broxham, Ansell, Troisi and of course Berisha. Look forward to seeing another session in 2017! Merry Christmas Demonlanders!! Woof.

Is there a harder working MFC staffer than Crossy? That pick up keeps giving in spades.

I, for one, and very pleased about this new rule, to be implemented in 2017. To me, the pure ruck contest between two, opposing ruckmen, is an iconic part of the game. To me, the third man up ruins the spectacle, and tends to negate the effect of the pure duel. The third man up is also a recipe for unwarranted injury. So, I'm happy to see it brought in. Think it will only reduce other teams' efforts to negate big Max's dominance.

All the other players were at the Heretier farewell function

Would have thought that was slightly harsh. We don't know the whole story and we don't know all the information H was given about his concussion. He was under contract and had every right to look at all angles about how he could get himself right and contribute to the club. Once he was properly informed then he pulled the pin. Yes, it's a pain that it's come in December and not in October, but to suggest he 'screwed the club' is totally over the top.

At training on Friday Peddo was just in front of me and lifted his jumper to wipe his face. I can tell you there is not one bit of fat on him, he looked ripped. I was surprised to hear in the report he wasn't in good shape, I reckon it's rot. I've got no idea what the story with Oliver is but he was a star on Friday although his running is poor by AFL standards. He has this break to make things right and we'll learn a bit when he comes back in the new year. The kid is a freak, he just needs to learn good habits. Macca will do the job with him I'm sure.

Another rule change also announced today is no high free when the player with the ball is responsible for high contact. A very welcome change. It covers ducking, slipping down through a tackle and driving the head into the tackler.

This morning I had a coffee from the cafe where Paul Roos first met with Lumumba. It was rubbish.

I think you will find in time, that that is incorrect. My very strong suspicion, is that he was told that he would most likely play most of the year at Casey and if he wished to retire, we would accommodate that, with a settlement of part of his 2017 contract. I believe the concussion issue to be a furphy. I still wish him well and don't know why people on here turn on our players so quickly. Surely we can all understand, that he would have preferred to play 40 more games with us and earn his full, remaining two years of his contract, rather than retiring and settling.

yeah, i feel really sorry for hawthorn and geelong.

Thank Christ we don't have more of these "not-normal-stereotype" players. The ones who decide it's a great idea to drag our club's medical department, and their professional integrity, through the mud. I must have missed the part where Nev Jetta or Gus Brayshaw threatened to sue the club over the club's treatment of their concussions. I do remember Bernie Vince having some choice words on H's commitment to the club though; maybe you could ask him?

The reason I am most happy about the no third man up rule is that it allows a different skill set to flourish. The game has been increasingly dominated by the 6'2" running midfielder. Hopefully now we can go back where two very tall unco blokes battle it out to see who can get it down to their more talented teammates. For the same reason i like seeing Caleb Daniel succeed. Footy should be a game for everyone.

Sorry, only took one.

I was wondering why I couldn't get any fresh lettuce at the supermarket. Gil obviously bought them out to ensure he could hit the AFL's favoured son with a bunch of wet ones.

Well that's a story in itself SWYL. It was on a recent club sanctioned trek to Tibet, The Prince went to bow to the Dalai Lama, the Dalai Lama moved to one knee to bow to the Prince and it was just a simple clash of heads. There's no concussion testing (other than incense) in that part of the World and, naturally, The Prince held the club accountable. Did he have a case? It's hard to say.

I don't understand this. Either he's off the list for 2017 in which case we should be able to upgrade a rookie or he's on the list and should be able to go as a long term injury due to concussion. The ruling that he's a terminated player and therefor we can't promote someone is ridiculous.

Laughable and completely unsurprising. Surely nobody actually expected the AFL would come up with a meaningful outcome here? Great timing, too. They delayed long enough to miss this year's draft, and announced close enough to Christmas that nobody will even notice.

Should have gone to Spec Savers!

You don't have to like every Demon, or have feelings for them and ambivalence is fine. I was referring to posters who get downright nasty/vicious at our players when they leave.

Rhys Matheson. Never been more riled by a first year player than this [censored], absolute expert at ducking into the tackler, and also did that stupid shotgun thing. Let's see how good he is in 2017. Toby McLean from the Dogs is another who won't be happy.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-12-21/third-man-up-gets-the-chop-in-radical-rule-change A big plus for Max I would guess...

and now for something completely different......................(spoken with an american accent (lol)..... An engineer dies and goes to hell. After a while, the engineer gets dissatisfied with the level of comfort there and starts designing and building improvements. After a while, hell has air conditioning, flushing toilets, water fountains and escalators - making the engineer a pretty popular guy. One day God phones Satan up and asks with a sneer: “Hey buddy, how’s it goin down there?” Satan snickered back, “Things are going great actually. We’ve got air conditioning, flush toilets, escalators and the works. Hell, there’s no telling what this engineer guy is gonna come up with next.” God replies, “What? You’ve got an engineer? That’s a mistake - he should never have been sent there; send him back up.” To which Satan replied, “No way dude. I like having an engineer on staff, I’m keepin him.” God retorted, “Send him up here or I’ll sue.” Satan laughs loudly and answers, “Yeah, right. And just where are you gonna find a lawyer?”

In the marking contest with Ty Vickery...

I'm glad he's gone. How the bloody hell can you build a premiership team, when some ponce is hanging around talking about the deli llama or the time someone pulled a gun on him in Brazil. Get out and good riddance. I doubt players from either club would be interested in hanging out such a self important [censored]

For consistency, lets hope that Fremantle and Richmond are also unable to upgrade rookies as they similarly reached settlements and released Shane Yarran and Chris Yarran from their contracts, after final list lodgements. If those teams have the same restriction I'll wear the Lumumba/no rookie ruling. If not I will be filthy and expect the club to go to the AFL with a 'Please Explain' note!!!

GWS lose the equivalent to pick 17. Never let it be said that the AFL won't come down hard on it's own club. Sure, they'll have a couple of picks inside the top ten and their protected academy players but Gil has drawn a huge line in the sand. Pick 17 is critical to this club's success and Gil has picked up two wet lettuces and let em' have it.

Meanwhile Gill and the Commission will take home their bonuses...

The AFL bring down their verdict: $100,000 fine and loss of 1,000 draft points. Fairly meaning less really - the draft points could be just a couple of third round picks. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-12-22/afl-hits-giants-with-massive-fine-over-whitfield-saga and the AFL will pay the $100,000 to themselves! Another penalty to a club for 'not doing something bad'. They AFL have conveniently rewritten the 'bring the game into disrepute' rule. It is now: The Giants had been formally charged in November with "conduct which is unbecoming or likely to prejudice the interests or reputation of the AFL or to bring the game of football into disrepute". Shame Adelaide (Kurt Tippett storm in a teacup) and us Dees (non tanking) didn't get the same leniency. The real loser in this is Brisbane. Collingwood can withstand the loss of Allen but Lambert is a huge loss to Brisbane, a loss they can ill afford. They were truly the innocent bystander. Nothing new to say the AFL have their priorities all wrong!

I'd like to beat Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon and Hawthorn!

And if he had stayed on the LTI for a year we would have paid the salary as well, it didn't work out, you never left a job under lesd than perfect circumstances? To actually doubt the concussion issues is pathetic to say the least next time I chat to Gus Brayshaw or Nev Jetta I'll let them know we have some doubters amongst supporters about the debilitating affects a couple of concussions can have Yours is exactly the reaction when a player doesn't fit the normal stereotype, similar to bullies in school or the workplace, except you can do it from behind the anonymity of your keyboard H came to the club, it didn't work, he has gone, I would just say thank you for his efforts

Because it's a ruck contest. At the centre bounce, two men face off against one another for superiority. Now it will (rightly) be the same everywhere else on the ground.

29426 ?

I find it humorous that so many people are trying to find a Macchiavellian angle into the departure of the player known as The Prince.

He did joke on twitter that he was retiring, effective immediately ?

Disagree. That has to be definitive PO. Kicking to yourself was never an intention of the behind kick in, if anything they should tighten that to say that the player who first touches the ball has to have his feet outside the square otherwise it's an invalid kicking in and bounced at the top of the square like when the kicker goes over the line. This would make the kicker kick out of the square to himself, the dinky kick to self in the square is a joke and a perversion of the rule.

Please god let's not trade with Collingwood ever again

Shuey and Selwood have just retired.

The question I have is how much did we pay a player who refused to take the field and honour his contract.

I don't wish him any ill will and nor do I wish him well. I have zero feelings for this player. Although, I'm happier today than I was the day we drafted him.

Farewell sweet Prince

Good riddance.

Wish him well in his next phase of life after AFL. Didn't work out the way we and he hoped, but that is AFL footy.

I love a rip roaring Austrian musical. Its up there with Springtime for Hitler for mine. I thought Julie Andrews was more appealing in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang but that's just me. There is no accountingfor taste- especially with Pro and McQueen lusting after ladies on life support. Ciao H - it's been educational.

As for H, I have good memories of his storming goal in his first game with us (against Gold Coast) that seemed to get the team fired up and kicking on for a win (our first opening round win in how long?). He always wore his heart on his sleeve which I don't mind and he has left the club wishing us no malice and in fact praising our list and wishing us the best of luck. Good luck to him in the future.

We benefit from this rule change. We suffered from the rule change that limited the run up in the ruck, that one reduced Jeff White's effectiveness. I feel for the list managers who are trying to put together a premiership list and the AFL make a rule which instantly changes the effectiveness of a "type" of player.

I don't know why I have to like every player that pulls on the red and blue. I don't have "feelings" for every player that plays for the MFC. It's not necessarily "turning" on a player. It can be utter ambivalence.

So will Selwood and that kid from Brisbane.

Nought Melbourne will be gutted!